Anti-shaking fencing mask equipped with air pads

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is an anti-shaking fencing mask equipped with air pads. The anti-shaking fencing mask includes: a fencing mask body configured to protect the head of a wearer in a fencing competition; a plurality of air pads configured to be provided inside the fencing mask body and to expand when air is injected thereinto; and an air injector configured to inject air into the air pads. When air is injected via the air injector, the air pads expand, come into close contact with the head of the wearer, and prevent shaking within the fencing mask body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0147273 filed on Nov. 18, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an anti-shaking fencing mask equipped with air pads, and more specifically to an anti-shaking fencing mask equipped with air pads, in which air pads are provided inside a fencing mask, thereby preventing the shaking of the fencing mask.

2. Description of the Related Art

Fencing is classified into three disciplines: foil fencing, épée fencing, and saber fencing, which are performed using different weapons and rules.

In foil fencing, only a thrust using the tip of a weapon is valid as in épée fencing. Foil fencing requires fast attacking motions. Foil fencing is a classical fencing discipline in which a winner is determined according to the rules of the attack and defend theory that recognizes the right to attack and the right to defend. In foil fencing, a winner is determined by attacking the upper body except for the arms and head.

In épée fencing, fencers use a rigid weapon with a guard larger than that of foil fencing, and may make full-body attacks. Épée fencing does not depend on detailed rules unlike the other disciplines in fencing. In épée fencing, a gain or loss of a score is determined depending on the duration of thrusting time. Accordingly, a winner is determined by thrusting before his or her opponent.

In saber fencing, fencers make attacks by cutting or thrusting the upper body of their opponent including the arms and head of the opponent, and use a flexible weapon with a guard capable of covering their hand.

Since fencing requires a lot of instantaneous fast movements, the fastening of a fencing mask cannot be continuously maintained by a prior art method of fastening a fencing mask to the face, and thus a metal mesh in the front of the fencing mask is shaken. Accordingly, a fencer frequently loses his or her eye's focus, and thus a problem arises in that he or she needs to refocus or move the fencing mask again.

Furthermore, the fencing mask covers the front of the face with a heavy metal mesh, and thus glasses may be changed in position or removed because the fencing mask hits the legs of the glasses due to a fencing mask's own weight of 1 to 2 Kg. Moreover, a problem arises in that the lenses of glasses touch the eyes or the nose pads of glasses strongly press the nose, thereby exerting an influence to prevent a fencer from focusing on a competition.

SUMMARY

The present invention has been conceived to overcome the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention is to provide an anti-shaking fencing mask equipped with air pads, in which air pads are provided inside a fencing mask, thereby preventing the shaking of the fencing mask.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an anti-shaking fencing mask equipped with air pads, the anti-shaking fencing mask including: a fencing mask body configured to protect the head of a wearer in a fencing competition; a plurality of air pads configured to be provided inside the fencing mask body and to expand when air is injected thereinto; and an air injector configured to inject air into the air pads; wherein when air is injected via the air injector into the air pads, the air pads expand to come into close contact with the head of the wearer, and prevent shaking within the fencing mask body.

Hooks configured to fasten the air pads may be formed on the inside of the fencing mask body.

The plurality of air pads may be connected to one another by connection tubes, and may form a tubular shape.

The air pads may be spaced apart from one another and fastened to the inside of the fencing mask body.

The air pads may expand respectively in front of, above, and beside the wearer based on the head of the wearer.

The air injector may be located below the head fastening portion of the fencing mask body.

A spherical pump ball made of an elastic material may be connected to the air injector so that air is injected via the air injector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a fencing competition is held in a fencing stadium;

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing an anti-shaking fencing mask equipped with air pads according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic rear view showing the anti-shaking fencing mask equipped with air pads according to the one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an air injector of the anti-shaking fencing mask equipped with air pads according to the one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a pump ball connected to the air injector of the anti-shaking fencing mask equipped with air pads according to the one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments described below are provided to enable those skilled in the art to easily understand the technical spirit of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the items represented in the accompanying drawings are schematically shown in order to easily illustrate the embodiments of the present invention, and may be different from those actually implemented in practice.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a fencing competition is held in a fencing stadium, FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing an anti-shaking fencing mask equipped with air pads according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a schematic rear view showing the anti-shaking fencing mask equipped with air pads according to the one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 together, the anti-shaking fencing mask 100 equipped with air pads according to the one embodiment of the present invention includes a fencing mask body 110 configured to protect the head of a fencer in a fencing competition, a plurality of air pads 120 configured to be provided inside the fencing mask body 110 and to expand when air is injected thereinto, and air injectors 130 configured to inject air into the air pads 120. When air is injected by the air injectors 130, the air pads 120 expand, come into close contact with the head of a wearer, and prevent shaking within the fencing mask body.

The electric signals generated by fencing weapons 40 during a competition are transmitted to an electrical judging apparatus through cables 30, and results are shown on a scoreboard 20 connected to the electrical judging apparatus.

According to the present invention, the front part of the fencing mask body 110 is made of a metal mesh and protects the head of the fencer, and a forehead protector configured to protect the forehead of the fencer is provided inside the fencing mask body 110.

A pair of hooks 112 configured to be located at both ends of each of the air pads 120 and to fasten the air pad 120 are disposed on the inside of the fencing mask body 110. Accordingly, when air is injected into the air pad 120, the portion of the air pad 120 except for the hooks 112 expands, and is fastened by the hooks 112. The air pad 120 does not require a separate fastener. The air pads 120 are spaced apart from one another and fastened to the inside of the fencing mask body 110. When air is removed from the air pads 120, the air pads 120 may be separated from the hooks 112.

In one specific example, the plurality of air pads 120 is connected to one another by connection tubes 122 and forms a tubular shape, and air is supplied to the air pads 120 via the air injectors 130 located below a head fastening portion 140.

The air pads 120 expand in front of, above, and beside the wearer based on the head of the wearer. In other words, when the face portion of the wearer is the front portion, the air pads 120 expand in the forehead, chin, head and cheek portions of the wearer respectively, and thus the prevention of the shaking of the anti-shaking fencing mask 100 equipped with air pads is maximized. In some cases, when an air pad is provided behind the back of the head, the prevention of shaking is further increased. Furthermore, when each of the air pads 120 is configured to be divided in a grid structure, a more uniform close contact may be achieved in all the directions of the head of a fencer.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an air injector of the anti-shaking fencing mask equipped with air pads according to the one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a pump ball connected to the air injector of the anti-shaking fencing mask equipped with air pads according to the one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 together with FIGS. 1 to 3, the air injector 130 of the anti-shaking fencing mask 100 equipped with air pads according to the one embodiment of the present invention is located below the head fastening portion 140 that is provided behind the fencing mask body 110.

The air injector 130 is connected to one of the air pads 120 or one of the connection tubes 122 connecting the air pads 120, and injects air into the air pads 120.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, a spherical or hemispherical pump ball 150 made of an elastic material may be connected in order to supply air to the air injector 130.

In one specific example, both sides of the pump ball 150 are attached to the air injector 130, and first and second check valves 151 and 152 are provided to the pump ball 150 in opposite directions. The first check valve 151 is connected to the outside and the second check valve 152 is connected to the air injector 130 through the connection tube, and thus air is moved in a single direction, i.e., a direction toward the inside of the air pads 120. Accordingly, when the pump ball 150 is repeatedly pressed, air is injected into the air pads 120.

The operation of the anti-shaking fencing mask 100 equipped with air pads according to the one embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Each fencer wears the anti-shaking fencing mask 100 equipped with air pads, and enters a fencing court.

In this case, the fencing court is also called a piste. In both épée and saber fencing, the pistes thereof are 14 m long, are 1.8 to 2 m wide and allow for fencers to use a length of 5 m as long as they do not cross the rear limit lines, with an extension of substantially 1.5 to 2 m at either end in order to allow retreat. In foil fencing, the pistes thereof have the same width as those of épée and saber fencing, are 12 m long, and allow for fencers to freely move throughout 4 m as long as they do not cross the limit lines.

In pistes common to all the disciplines, when the back foot of a fencer reaches a warning line, a referee stops a competition and warns that the back foot reaches the warning line. A fencer who has crossed a limit line with his or her both feet after the warning is considered to have been hit. A fencer who has moved to a side of a piste loses a ground of 1 m in the case of foil fencing, and loses a ground of 2 m in the case of épée and saber fencing.

Before a fencer enters the fencing court, air is injected into the plurality of air pads 120 via the air injector 130. When the pump ball 150 is connected to the air injector 130 and air is injected through pumping, the plurality of air pads 120 is connected to one another by the air tubes 122, and thus air is injected to the plurality of air pads 120.

In this case, the air pads 120 are fastened at individual locations by the hooks 112 formed on the fencing mask body 110 while expanding and the air pads 120 expand toward the wearer in the forehead, chin, head and cheek portions of the wearer, thereby maximizing the prevention of the shaking of the anti-shaking fencing mask 100 equipped with air pads.

Furthermore, when the anti-shaking fencing mask 100 equipped with air pads is removed, air inside the air pads is discharged to the outside by opening the entrance of the air injector 130 or releasing the connection between the second check valve 152 of the pump ball 150 and the air injector 130, thereby facilitating the removal of the anti-shaking fencing mask 100 equipped with air pads.

Therefore, the anti-shaking fencing mask equipped with air pads according to the present invention provides the effects of exercising the most of the skill of a fencer while improving the performance of the fencer, preventing shaking without increasing the weight of the fencing mask, thereby allowing for a fencer to focus on a fencing competition, and expending the base of social sports that enjoy fencing by inducing interest in fencing competition.

In other words, the anti-shaking fencing mask equipped with air pads according to the present invention has the following effects:

First, the most of the skill of a fencer is exercised while improving the performance of the fencer.

Second, shaking is prevented without increasing the weight of the fencing mask, thereby allowing for a fencer to focus on a fencing competition.

Third, an effect is achieved in that the base of social sports that enjoy fencing is expended by inducing interest in fencing competition.

Although the present invention has been specifically described using the embodiments taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, the above-described embodiments are described merely using some examples of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited only to the above-described embodiments, but the scope of the present invention should be interpreted as encompassing the following claims and ranges equivalent to the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An anti-shaking fencing mask equipped with air pads, the anti-shaking fencing mask comprising: a fencing mask body configured to protect a head of a wearer in a fencing competition; a plurality of air pads configured to be provided inside the fencing mask body and to expand when air is injected thereinto; and an air injector configured to inject air into the air pads; wherein when air is injected via the air injector into the air pads, the air pads expand to come into close contact with the head of the wearer, and prevent shaking within the fencing mask body.
 2. The anti-shaking fencing mask of claim 1, wherein hooks configured to fasten the air pads are formed on an inside of the fencing mask body.
 3. The anti-shaking fencing mask of claim 1, wherein the plurality of air pads are connected to one another by connection tubes, and forms a tubular shape.
 4. The anti-shaking fencing mask of claim 3, wherein the air pads are spaced apart from one another and fastened to an inside of the fencing mask body.
 5. The anti-shaking fencing mask of claim 4, wherein the air pads expand respectively in front of, above, and beside the wearer based on the head of the wearer.
 6. The anti-shaking fencing mask of claim 1, wherein the air injector is located below a head fastening portion of the fencing mask body.
 7. The anti-shaking fencing mask of claim 6, wherein a spherical pump ball made of an elastic material is connectable to the air injector so that air is injected via the air injector. 